In tribute to Glenn: Over 200 people take part in memorial cup

THE inaugural Glenn Fullam Memorial Cup football tournament was held across three days in Knockmore Field last week and saw 200 people take part in the event.

Glenn, who was originally from Killinarden, passed away last April at age 26, after a short battle with cancer, and was a keen sportsman who played for Crumlin United FC and Sacred Heart FC.

Young people from the area took part in the tournament, which was organised by youth work project Connect 4, as did some of Glenn’s colleagues from the Irish Air Corps.

Paul Perth from Connect 4 told The Echo: “Glenn is a local lad who died of cancer a couple of months ago.

“He would’ve used a lot of youth services in the area and played for Sacred Heart FC.

“Glenn was a lovely character, and he had an aura and an energy about him.”

The U12’s with Rob Whitley and Paul Perth from the Connect 4 Project

The tournament kicked off last week on Monday, July 31, and concluded with the final match on Wednesday, July 2.

A team called Gum Gum, composed of Glenn’s colleagues from the Defence Forces, were ultimately crowned the victors after a tense final against Tamhlacht FC.

The winning team was presented with the Glenn Fullam Cup and medals by Glenn’s parents, who were in attendance every night, as were his partner and son.

Paul from Connect 4 added that there are plans to make the Glenn Fullam Memorial Cup an annual event, in tribute to Glenn and also to carry on a tradition of football being played in Knockmore.

The late Glenn Fullam

“I’m from the area, and when I was growing up there was always football and a sense of community for a couple of days a year on that field, and one of our goals was to reinvent that,” said Paul.

“It was fantastic.

“We brought in referees, which were funded by the South Dublin County Sports Partnership, and South Dublin County Council cleaned the field.

“It brought the community back together – it just reignited something.”

The tournament was strongly supported by the community across the board, including the spectators, players, and sponsorships from Killinarden House and Deonach.

Commenting on Glenn and reflecting on the tournament, Paul said: “He lived life to the full, and that’s exactly how the tournament was – it was played in the spirit of Glenn.

“It was feisty, it was competitive, but there wasn’t a cross word spoken to any of the referees.

“It was played in a competitive way with no malice, and that’s the way Glenn played football.”

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